Transcriptional regulation of the flavohemoglobin gene for aerobic nitric oxide detoxification by the second nitric oxide-responsive regulator of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The regulatory gene for a sigma(54) -dependent-type transcriptional regulator, fhpR, is located upstream of the fhp gene for flavohemoglobin in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Transcription of fhp was induced by nitrate, nitrite, nitric oxide (NO), and NO-generating reagents. Analysis of the fhp promoter activity in mutant strains deficient in the denitrification enzymes indicated that the promoter was regulated by NO or related reactive nitrogen species. The NO-responsive regulation was operative in a mutant strain deficient in DNR (dissimilatory nitrate respiration regulator), which is the NO-responsive regulator required for expression of the denitrification genes. A binding motif for sigma(54) was found in the promoter region of fhp, but an FNR (fumarate nitrate reductase regulator) box was not. The fhp promoter was inactive in the fhpR or rpoN mutant strain, suggesting that the NO-sensing regulation of the fhp promoter was mediated by FhpR. The DNR-dependent denitrification promoters (nirS, norC, and nosR) were active in the fhpR or rpoN mutants. These results indicated that A aeruginosa has at least two independent NO-responsive regulatory systems. The fhp or fhpR mutant strains showed sensitivity to NO-generating reagents under aerobic conditions but not under anaerobic conditions. These mutants also showed significantly low aerobic NO consumption activity, indicating that the physiological role of flavohemoglobin in A aeruginosa is detoxification of NO under aerobic conditions.